Denver Broncos: A Remedy for the Immaturity Blues

Working on the Remedy

OK, so let’s evaluate the Broncos last week and a half since promoting Brian Xanders to General Manager.  He and new Head Coach Josh McDaniels have proceeded to blow-up one of the leagues worst defenses and aggressively seek new talent. 

Amazingly enough, the Broncos landed one of the top defensive safeties in all of football in Brian Dawkins, who left Philadelphia after 13 seasons. 

His attitude on and off the field is infectious in all the right ways.  He’s not just a raw-raw coach on the field, he’s a player who doesn’t back down and puts his nose where it doesn’t belong. 

Much in the same exact fashion Denver has come to rely on Champ Bailey's stellar play at the corner position.  High praises to Pat Bowlen, Brian Xanders, and Josh McDaniels for pulling the trigger, and having the courage to get one huge piece of the puzzle on defense. 

Don’t overlook any of the other recent signings the Broncos have made as well now that they have more depth at wide receiver, running back, and in the defensive backfield. 

Possibly the most under-rated move of this off season will be the Broncos being able to sign Renaldo Hill away from the Dolphins to play alongside Dawkins at safety.  These two safeties will be one of the best tandems in team history for years to come. 

With Champ Bailey and possible solid complement on the way at press time, expect this combination to make it hard on receivers and quarterbacks alike.

The Broncos had to get more physical and so far they are proving that they are on that road. 

The team picked up stellar linebacker talent in Andra Davis from Cleveland who has been compared to Al Wilson with regard to his hard hitting and attitude and on the field leadership. 

In the middle the Broncos picked up Colts defensive tackle Darrell Reid who has had some recent off-the-field trouble.  He could be a solid pickup for the team in the middle however and could have a bright future here.

The Naivety in Singing the Immaturity Blues 

With all the great signs of what’s ahead at Dove Valley and Mile High there is one very serious crack in the Broncos foundation of building their new team.  It’s literally time to pass on Ol Shan and demolish this foundation now and bring everyone to account immediately.

While Broncos fans have endured with Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall’s immaturity the last few seasons, there is something that actually has surpassed all of that.  

First of all, let’s start at the very top.  With all of the recent rumors of the Broncos shopping Jay Cutler who has been the projected franchise the last three seasons, it’s time to lay it out.  It's official, Josh McDaniels has pulled a Dan Reeves move with Xanders his partner in crime.

Mr. Bowlen needs to immediately denounce this move by his staff regardless of where he sits on the issue.  He also needs to make a public apology to Jay Cutler and give him the reinforcement that he will be the quarterback of this franchise going forward. 

To trade Jay Cutler now would be a debacle despite his shortcomings.  Jay is on the cusp of doing something great; all he needs is a great coach. 

Wait, isn’t that why Josh McDaniels was hired?  Because he was such a great offensive mind, and that he thinks like a quarterback, and he's a student of Bill Billecheck.  The ball has been dropped here, and not by Cutler but by a young coach seeking an easy out.  The problem is if this were baseball Coach McDaniels would be out on the play at the plate.   Dead to rites.

Consider this submission. 

While Brian Xanders and Josh McDaniels are joined at the hip in the slue of recent maneuvers they are also starting to sprout a shade of green just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. 

Only this shade isn’t about luck or being Irish, it’s about being green and naïve.  On the brash side you could call it cocky, arrogance, pride, you name it.  On the positive side, well there isn’t one on this particular maneuver.

It’s understood that Coach McDaniels would want the guy he coached last year in New England to walk in here, play the same system and make everything right in coach McDs dreams.  Therein is the fatal flaw. 

While there is a great deal of upside to Josh McDaniels as a person and as a coach, he has officially made his worst move as coach in even suggesting bringing Matt Cassel here.  Not that Matt isn’t talented, he clearly is.  But let’s set the record straight. 

He has the exact same number of playoff wins as Jay Cutler, that number being zero.

Moreover, for Josh to think he is not a trader to the New England franchise at this point is incredibly naïve on his part at this juncture.  There’s only so much you can siphon off from your old team before they start to get a little bent. 

Furthermore it’s obvious he wants to run the New England offense in Denver.  The real flaw in that Josh’s play calls are documented on film just as well as coach Shanahan’s play calls are.  So while it’s nice to bring in guys the coach is familiar with to fit a system he’s familiar with it doesn’t translate to wins.

Recent New England transplants have brought the Broncos the likes of wide receiver Jabar Gaffney and supplanted a solid long snapper with a higher priced familiar face in Lonie Paxton.  It’s painful to say but the young coach is a bit full of himself at this juncture.  That is why New England traded Matt Cassel to the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Trading Cutler to Detroit is the latest rumor for the number one pick in the draft.  Mr. Bowlen should ensure that this does not happen.  Even at the point of being looked at as a bit like Jerry Jones.

What these young Broncos executives need is a bit more maturity to match their aggressive masterminds.  It’s always a good thing to keep an open mind, and think outside the box, just make sure your brain doesn’t fall out in the process. 

In the meantime I have a suggested reading for Coach McDaniels; it has to do with the fallout of John Elway and Dan Reeves.  You should Google it, research it, and learn from it.  Build a bridge with Jay, and fix what’s fixable.

Jay needs a guy in his corner.  A guy who understands technique, how to correct the good and bad that is a part of his game.  Someone who can help him make better reads and adapt to the new system.

He doesn't need The Ides of March.

It’s understood, Jay had a good drive in the Pro Bowl and looked horrendous the rest of the way.  But it was just the Pro Bowl.  It’s understood he’s lacked maturity at times McDaniels as the head coach should take the time to work with him.  If Coach McDaniels can’t work with Jay, it’s time for a new coach.

Back To the Edge of an Orange Crush

Something the Broncos appear to have done right at Saturday’s press conference introducing Brian Dawkins was giving him an orange jersey with his signature number 20. 

This could be a prelude of a return to more emphasis on a return to the defensive glory days with a nod to the Orange Crush of old.  It would be nice to see the Broncos back in orange, but as a preference the old burnt red orange with white trim is fresh with navy to midnight blue. 

If the Broncos are serious about doing it all right, put the 'D' back on the helmets and get serious about winning again.